San Juanico Airstrip

The airstrip was closed by Mexican government authorities, most likely the military (SEDENA - Secretariat of National Defense), as part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking. During this period, the Mexican government closed hundreds of small, remote, and unsupervised airstrips throughout the country to prevent their use for illicit logistics by drug cartels.

The site is abandoned and completely unusable for any form of aviation. The physical runway is still visible from the air, but it is severely deteriorated, overgrown with desert scrub, and bisected by numerous informal dirt tracks. The large 'X' markings painted at the thresholds to signify closure are faded but still discernible in satellite views. The land is not being used for any formal purpose and appears to be open desert, occasionally transited by local off-road vehicles.

San Juanico Airstrip was a crucial general aviation facility that supported the tourism-dependent economy of the remote village of San Juanico, which is world-renowned for its surfing destination, Scorpion Bay. The unpaved strip catered to private pilots and small charter flights, primarily from the United States and other parts of Mexico. It provided direct access for surfers, fishermen, and eco-tourists, allowing them to bypass the long and often challenging drive on unpaved roads. For the community, it was a key link to the outside world, vital for both tourism revenue and as a potential access point for emergency medical evacuations.

There are no known or published plans to reopen the San Juanico Airstrip. The significant security concerns that led to its closure remain a primary barrier. Any effort to reopen would require not only substantial investment to completely rebuild the runway and facilities but also a comprehensive security plan that would satisfy both the Mexican civil aviation authority (AFAC) and the military. Given the trend towards consolidating air traffic at larger, more secure airports, the prospect of reopening this remote strip is considered extremely low to non-existent.